Rising Stars | Must Read Brian Roney, 30 Senior Director of Product Design Proforma Tampa, Florida When did you know you wanted to be involved in the promotional products industry? I was exposed to this industry at a young age, helping pack lanyards and welcome kits for some of our largest events. But it wasn’t until after college that I became more exposed to the people in the industry, which really pulled me in to do great work with really great people. We have so many wonderful technology leaders here at Proforma who have helped me because I didn’t come from a technology background. What has been your proudest moment in your work? During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were trying to source PPE through traditional methods. But we thought outside the box and chartered our own flights through Antonov and Boeing. We brought in more than $300 million worth of PPE, which helped our distributors with their clients. Being able to deliver the most in-demand product in the entire world was a proud moment. What excites you in your role? At Proforma, we’re a mission-driven organization. Our focus is on how we can empower our distributors’ success. It’s very fulfilling to ask distributors what their challenges are and then provide them with solutions. What does the industry need to do to attract and retain more young leaders? The younger generation, including myself, want to have meaning to what we do. We want to provide value while having fun. Being able to portray that as part of our offering as an industry is really important. At Proforma, we’re very involved in our community, hosting and sponsoring charity events. We’ve had some of our best employees come from these events. We’ve received more than we’ve ever given, which isn’t what we anticipated, but it’s been amazing. PPAI • NOVEMBER 2024 • 47
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